Commutator



W. B SPERM/W. COMMUTATORK APPLICATION FILED Nov. 2. i918- RENEWED sEPT.19, 19m

' 1,414,313. Patented Apr. 25, 1922.

vwewtoz E .5 695mm.

UNITED- STATES,

PATENT oFFIica.

WILLIAM B. srERMAiv, or Mormns, OKLAHOMA.

GQMMUTATOR.

st mer nt natal.- Patented Apr. 25, 1922.

Application filed November 2, 1918, Serial No. 260,882; Renewed September 19, 1921. Serial No. 501,826.

T0 all 'whom it may concern," I a 'Be it known that I, WILLIAM B, 3 MAN, a citizen of the United States, residlng at Mounds, in lthe'county of Greek "and" State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new 'anduseful Improvements in Commutators; and I do hereby declare'the following i to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will' enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to'improvements in commutators for internal combustlon en-' gines of automobiles and has for one of its objects the provision of means whereby the circuit through the commutator can be broken so as to prevent the starting of the engine, thus lockingthe automobile against theft.

provision of the contacts movably mounted in the shell. or casing and having means connected thereto forf'moving them into and out of engagement with the contact poles, when desired, and which means is controlledby a key iwhereby an unauthorized person is prevented, from starting the engine.

A further object of thls lnvention is the provision ofmeans von the contact roller 5 for preventing the same from being used in conjunction with an ordinary commutator shell or casing, thus obviating an unauthorized person from removing the shell or casing and substituting an ordinary one bination, and arrangement of parts as will i be hereinafter claimed. v V

For a complete understanding of my more fully described and Another object of. this inventionis the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in Wh1ch Figure l isa rear elevation'partly in section ofthe commutator constructed in accordance .with my invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View of the same, and p i Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the contacts. v

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates the casing or shell of a commutator, which is adapted to besecured to an internal combustion engine in the usual manner and has formed thereon the ordinary ear 2 provided with an aperture 3 for receiving a sparlrcontrolling rod or element. A stationary ring 3 is secured 7 within the zcasingor shell 1 and is constructed offiber or any other non-conductlng material, and is provided with relatively spaced openings to receive C n poles 41" that extend through openings in the casing or shell 1 for connection with,

the .feeclwires that lead to the coils of an automobile. movable ring 5 is rotatably secured within the stationary ring 3 and is constructed of fiber or any other nonconducting material, and is provided with relatively spaced openings to recelve con- 7 tacts 6 that are adapted to engage at their outer ends with the inner ends of the contact poles 4, .under ordinary running conditions of the engine, A. sleeve 7 is secured to the timing shaft 8 of the engine in the ordinary manner and has formed thereon relatively spaced ears 9 between which is pivoted a contact arm 10, having one end secured to the sleeve 7 by means of a coil spring 11, while its opposite end has journal'ed thereto a contact roller 12,

An extension 13 is formed upon the contact arm 10 and is adapted to limit the outi ward movement of the contact roller 12 forv the purpose of preventing the same from being used in conjunction with an ordinary commutator shell or casing. If an ordinary commutator shell or casing is applied or substituted for the shell lvof this invention, the distance'between the contacts. thereof and the hub 7 is too great for the roller 12 to engage said contacts and to prevent any possibility oil the roller 12 engaging said contacts, the lug or stop 13 is provided.

The casing or shell. 1 is provided with an opening in which is rotatably secured a plug lEl: having secured to its inner end a gear 15 adapted to mesh with teeth 16 formed upon the movable ring 5 and which are located between a pair of the contacts 6, whereby upon rotating the plug 1 1 the contacts 6 may be moved into or out of 'engagement with the contact poles 41-. The plug 14 is provided with a key opening to receive a key 17 so that said plug can be readily turned in either direction for moving the contacts 6 into and out of engagement with the contact poles 1.- i

In use, the contacts 6 are disposed in en gagement with the contact poles l and the contact roller 12 rotates against the inner wall of the movable ring 5 and when the same engages the contacts 6 electric circults are completed to the various cylinders of the engine. When it is desired to lock the engine, the key 17 is inserted within the key hole in the plug 14 so as to turn said plug moving the ring 5 in a position to disconneet the contacts 6 from the contact poles 1, thus preventing an electric circuit being completed to the cylinders of the engine.

The keyhole ot' the plug 14 is made in a peculiar shape and the key shaped accordingly, so that a certain key must be used before the device can be locked or unlocked.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination, and arrangement 40 i of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is v 1. A commutator comprising a shell, a-

non-conductive ring secured within saidshell and having openings, poles carried by said shell and extending through said openings, a movable ring; constructed of nonconducting material rotatably mounted within the first named ring and having; spaced openings, contacts located within the openings of the movable ring, teeth formed upon the movable ring between a pair of the contacts, a contact roller disposed within the movable ring and adapted to be rotated by the engine to consecutively engage the contacts, a plug journaled in the casing and having akeyhole, a gear secured to said plug and in mesh with the teeth and a key adapted to lit the keyhole for rotating the plug.

2. A commutator including means adapted for adjustment to establish an electrical connection between the contact and binding post's of the commutator and for adjustment to break said connection, and means for locking said lirst means in adjustei'l position.

3. A commutator including means forming a part thercol and adapted for adjustment to establish an electrical connection between the contact and binding posts of the commutator and for adjustment to break said connection, and -mea-ns for locking said first means in adjusted position. I

t. A commutator including means located between the binding post and contact of the commili'ta-tor and adapted for adjustment to establish an electrical connection between the contact and binding posts of the commutator and for adjustment to break said connection, and means for locking said first means in adjusted position. i

A commutator including means adapted for adjustment to establish an electrical connection between the contact and binding posts of the commutator and for adjustment to break said connection, and means carried by the commutator for locking said first means in adjusted position. a

6. A commutator including means adapted for adjustment to establish an electrical connection between the contact and binding posts of the commutator and "for adjustment to break said connection, and means for moving and locking said .lirst means in adjusted position.

7 .Ar commutator including an element carrying binding posts and a movable contact. means engaged by the contact and adustable relative to said. element and adapted when in oneposition to engage the posts to render the device operative and when in another position to disengage the posts to render the device inoperative, and means for locking said first means against movement relative to said element.

8. A commutator including an element carrying binding; posts and a movable contact, means engaged by the contact and adjustable relative to said element and adapted when in one position to engage the posts to render the device operative and when in another position to disengage the posts to render the device inoperative, and means carried by said element for moving the second met, relative to said element and to lock said second means in either of its positions. v

9. A commutator including a movable c0ntact, an element carrying binding posts, a

second element carrying conductors establishing electrical connection between said contact and. binding posts, said elements being capable of relative adjustment to break said connection, and means for locking said parts in such adjustment.

'10 A commutator including parts adapted to be adjusted relatively to each other and the contact ofthe commutator to render the commutator inoperative, and means for locking said parts in such adjustment.

11. A commutator including sectional electric conductors, a contact, and means by which the sections ofthe conductors may be adjusted relatively and locked to render the commutator inoperative. v

12. A commutator including a rotating contact and a series of conductors arranged 10 about said contact, each of said conductors consisting of sections adapted for adjustment relatively to lock the commutator in its inoperative position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

W. B. SPERMAN. 

